Frequently Asked Questions - River Cruises

Visa requirements vary by the country you are visiting and by your country of residence, and can change at any time. Please check with the official government websites of the countries you will be visiting for the latest information.

Due to global immigration and security regulations, this form must be fully completed and submitted by the time of final payment. Without it, we can’t issue your travel documents. Every guest is required to complete this form.

You can book Optional Experiences with your Experience Director onboard at the start of your River Cruise. These can be charged to your onboard account and paid by credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or American Express). Optional Experiences cannot be reserved before your cruise.

Some Optional Experiences require a minimum number of guests to operate, and please note that refunds are not available for cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time, or for pre-paid tours.

If you're joining a pre- or post-cruise extension, your Experience Director will also be on hand to help you book Optional Experiences and payment is by credit card only, as cash is not accepted.

Yes, you can choose to extend your trip with our Optional Extensions. Whether you're cruising the Rhine or the Danube, you can add extra nights in remarkable cities before or after your trip. Choose to spend two nights in Lucerne to complement your Rhine journey or extend your Danube trip with two nights in Budapest, Prague, or both. It’s your chance to see even more and make every moment count.

See our Optional Extensions on our Best of the Rhine and Amsterdam itinerary page and Best of the Danube itinerary page.

We do our best to follow the planned itinerary, but sometimes changes are needed for safety or due to unexpected situations. If any changes happen, we’ll try to let you know in advance whenever possible.

Breakfast is a 90-minute buffet with a live egg station and fresh regional options, including juice, tea, coffee, and water.

Lunch runs for 90 minutes and features a generous buffet with a rotating speciality dish at a live cooking station. Included drink options are wine, beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water, with local wines changing daily over a 7-day rotation.

Dinner is served à la carte, offering a three-course menu with a daily choice of three starters, mains, and desserts inspired by the destinations visited. Included drink options are wine, beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water, with local wines changing daily over a 7-day rotation.

Optional speciality dishes are available for purchase.

To provide the best duty of care for all our guests, it’s important that you should advise us of any dietary concerns that might affect you on your tour at time of booking. This information can be provided to us when completing your Passenger Information Form. If you carry an auto-injector for nuts or other allergies etc or you have a condition requiring special attention it is important that we know as soon as possible.  

There’s plenty to enjoy onboard. Twice during the cruise, local entertainers come aboard to perform. You can also listen to a variety of music through our curated playlists.

You could visit the wheelhouse or join a Nautical Talk with the Captain (depending on the sailing schedule). There’s also a baking demonstration with our Executive Chef or Pastry Chef.

And for some relaxed fun, the game room is a great place to unwind and connect with others.

You can see cabin details and ship plans for cabin locations on our Ship details page. Choose from a Suite, French Balcony, Deluxe or Classic cabin.

It’s not about which is better, it’s about how you feel. The Danube is for lovers of imperial grandeur, music, and culture, flowing through cities like Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava. The Rhine is a storybook come to life, with castle-dotted hills, romantic villages, and world-famous wine regions. Whichever you choose, you’ll uncover the heart of Europe from the water, the Trafalgar way. 

In many ports, your ship will dock close to the city centre so you can easily walk to the sights. In some places, it may dock further out, and we’ll provide a motorcoach transfer.

At busy ports, your ship might dock next to or between other ships, and you may need to walk through them to get on or off.

Docking spots are assigned by local authorities, not Trafalgar or the ship’s captain.

Each ship has a self-service laundry area with washers, dryers, and an ironing station, so you can refresh your clothes whenever it suits you. Detergent is available for purchase.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across Europe, and you can use them to withdraw cash at ATMs onshore (there are no ATMs on board). We recommend bringing at least one credit card and one ATM card.

Avoid carrying euro notes over €100, as some places may not accept them. You can exchange small amounts of cash on board and currency exchange offices are available in major cities. Travellers' Checks aren’t recommended.

Before you travel, let your bank and credit card company know you’ll be in Europe so they don’t block your transactions.

In Europe, the Electrical current is 220V, the European standard, but each stateroom and suite has one 110V outlet. Voltage may vary by ship, so you might need an adapter and/or converter for your devices.

WiFi is available onboard our ships. Please note that signal strength and connection speed may be affected briefly throughout your journey, especially in remote areas and while moving through locks.

Yes, you’ll be guided by your expert Experience Director or Experience Manager, and on some experiences a Local Specialist or Local Host, too. All guides speak English and you’ll use state-of-the-art QuietVox audio-headsets so you don’t miss a word.

Children aged 5 to 17 years at the time of travel are welcome on our River Cruises.

Smoking and vaping is only allowed within the designated area of the outside deck. Smoking is not allowed on coaches or during tours. This includes e-cigarettes and vapes. Many attractions are smoke-free, so we ask guests to be mindful while on shore.

Weather updates are displayed digitally onboard, making it easy to plan your day. For the latest international weather conditions, you can also check websites like weather.com.

Pack layers for changing temperatures and good walking shoes for cobbled streets. A waterproof jacket is handy for Spring showers, and don’t forget sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen. Most days are casual, so dress with comfort and exploration in mind.  

Our River Cruises are all about relaxed comfort and doing things your way. Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and layers for excursions, and whatever you feel comfortable wearing for dinner and onboard the ship.

Our friendly and expert Trafalgar team are here and ready to help. Simply give us a call on 65 6922 5950 and we'll be happy to help.